Source: Compiled by the Ministry of the Environment based on UNEP, Desertification Control Bulletin (1991).

### 7. Basis of Various Measures, and Measures Facilitating the Participation of Various Actors and International Cooperation

## (1) Making Progress with Environmental Education and Environmental Learning

Since it is important to encourage environmental education, the Japanese Diet passed the “Law for Enhancing the Motivation on Environmental Conservation and Promotion of Environmental Education” in July 2003. After the Cabinet decided on its fundamental policies in accordance with the legislation, the Ministry of the Environment established the Ministerial Ordinance on the Registration of Human Resource Accreditation etc. Enterprises. The law became fully effective on October 1, 2004.

In relation to this, the Ministry of the Environment has launched the Junior Eco-Club program, which is a program for supporting elementary/middle school pupil's environmental conservation activities, as well as the Environmental Counselor Project to provide advisors and instructors for environmental conservation activities. In FY2005, the ministry also launched "My Family's Minister of the Environment" program (a program supporting family ecoliving), and the "School Eco-Renovation and Environmental Education Project," to carry out environmental education through renovation and effective utilization of environmentally friendly school facilities.

## (2) Efforts for Achieving a More Environmentally Friendly Socioeconomic Structure

Government-related organizations provide subsidies for environmental conservation projects.

Another idea is to impose economic costs in an attempt to reduce environmental burdens. Possible policy approaches would include suppressing waste generation as well as controlling carbon dioxide emissions to prevent global warming. To identify appropriate policy approaches, the government conducted a research project to survey and collect data on foreign best practices and examine possible positive effects that these policies would have on environmental conservation or the national economy.

The “Law Concerning the Promotion of Procurement of Eco-Friendly Goods and Services by the State and Other Entities” aims at encouraging a demand shift to eco-friendly goods (goods and services with low environmental load) by promoting procurement of eco-friendly goods in the public sector (the national government, independent administrative institutes, and public organizations) and actively providing environmental information. In line with these basic policies, the national government and other public-sector organizations established their FY2006 eco-friendly goods procurement plan and attempted to promote procurement eco-friendly goods based on their own plan.

In addition, following the enforcement of the “Law Concerning the Promoting of Business Activities with Environmental Consideration by Specified Corporations, etc., by Facilitating Access to Environmental Information and Other Measures” came into force in April 2005 the government drew up the “Guide for Environmental Reporting for ‘Specified Corporations’” (e.g.; public institutions, etc.). This guide has drawn up for the convenience of business activities who are inexperienced in preparing and